Alcohol

Alcohol abuse causes over 100,000 deaths in
the United States and Canada each year. It is the drug most commonly abused by
children ages 12 to 17. Alcohol-related car crashes are the leading
cause of death in teenagers. People who drink alcohol are more likely to engage
in high-risk sexual behavior, have poor grades or job
performance, use tobacco products, and experiment with
illegal drugs. Alcohol and drug use may be an
unconscious attempt at self-treatment for another problem, such as
depression.

You have an alcohol problem if
your use of alcohol interferes with your health or daily living. You develop
alcoholism if you physically or emotionally depend on alcohol to get you
through your day.

Long-term heavy drinking damages the
liver, nervous system, heart, and brain. It can lead to
high blood pressure, stomach problems, medicine
interactions, sexual problems, osteoporosis, and cancer. Alcohol abuse can also
lead to violence, accidents, social isolation, jail or prison time, and
problems at work and home.

Symptoms of an alcohol problem
include personality changes, blackouts, drinking more and more for the same
"high," and denial of the problem. A person with an alcohol problem may gulp or
sneak drinks, drink alone or early in the morning, and suffer from the shakes.
He or she may also have family, school, or work problems or get in trouble with
the law because of drinking.

The use of alcohol with medicines or
illegal drugs may increase the effects of each.

Alcohol abuse
patterns vary. Some people drink and may be intoxicated (drunk) every day. Other people drink large amounts of
alcohol at specific times, such as on the weekend. It is common for someone
with an alcohol or drug problem to call in sick for work on Monday or Friday.
He or she may complain of having a virus or the flu. Others may be sober for
long periods and then go on a drinking binge that lasts for weeks or
months.

Someone with
alcohol dependence may suffer serious
withdrawal symptoms, such as trembling, delusions,
hallucinations, and sweating, if he or she stops drinking suddenly ("cold
turkey"). After alcohol dependence develops, it becomes very hard to stop
drinking without outside help. Medical
detoxification may be needed.

Drugs

Drug abuse includes the use of illegal
drugs—such as marijuana, methamphetamines, cocaine, heroin, or other "street
drugs"—and the abuse of legal prescription and nonprescription drugs. Some
people use drugs to get a "high" or to relieve stress and emotional
problems.

Drugs like ecstasy (MDMA), ketamine, GHB, Rohypnol, and
LSD, which are known as "club drugs," may be found at all-night dances, raves,
trances, or clubs. The use of club drugs accounts for increasing numbers of drug
overdoses and emergency room visits. Inhalants like nitrous oxide may also be
used at these clubs. Drugs come in different forms and can be used in different
ways. They can be smoked, snorted, inhaled, taken as pills, put in liquids or
food, put in the rectum or the vagina, or injected with a needle. Teens and
young adults may be at risk for becoming victims of sexual assault or violent
behavior in situations where these
drugs are used.

Some nonprescription
medicines, such as cold medicines that have dextromethorphan as an ingredient,
are being abused by teens and young adults as a way to get a "high." Glue, shoe polish, cleaning fluids, and aerosols, are common household products with ingredients that can also be used to get a "high."

In the United States and Canada, approximately 40% of adults will use an
illegal drug at some time during their lives. This does not include the use of
alcohol or prescription medicines. Many people abuse more than one illegal
substance at a time.

Drug dependence or addiction occurs when you
develop a physical or emotional "need" for a drug. You are unable to control
your use of a drug despite the negative impact it has on your life. You may not
be aware that you have become dependent on a drug until you try to stop taking
it. Drug withdrawal can cause uncomfortable and sometimes
dangerous symptoms. The usual treatment is to gradually reduce the dose of the
drug until you can completely stop using it.

High-risk groups

Some groups of people are more
likely than others to have problems related to alcohol or drug abuse. These
groups include:

Teenagers and young adults. Approximately one-half of all high school seniors in the U.S.
admit to having used alcohol or an illegal drug. Substance abuse in this age
group increases the risk of involvement in crime, high-risk sexual behavior,
accidents, and injuries. Teens that use alcohol and drugs are more likely to
have poor school performance and have higher dropout rates. For more information, see the topic Teen Alcohol and Drug Abuse.

Women.

Although women are less likely than men to
abuse alcohol, they are more likely to have alcohol-related health problems,
such as
liver disease.

Women are more likely to
have problems with prescription medicines. More than two-thirds of all
tranquilizers are prescribed for women. Tranquilizers, sedatives, pain
medicines, and
amphetamines are abused most often by
women.

Alcohol and drug abuse in women increases the risk of
developing other health problems, such as
osteoporosis or
depression.

Women who abuse alcohol and
drugs attempt
suicide four times more frequently than
nonabusers.

Adults older than age 65.
Drug abuse in this age group is a problem because of the high number of
prescription medicines and the lack of coordination between doctors. Signs of alcohol or drug abuse may be mistaken for other disease
problems or simply overlooked as a symptom of "aging." Many older adults
"self-medicate" with alcohol to help relieve sleep problems, depression, and
other problems. Alcohol abuse is more common than drug abuse in older adults.
Alcohol contributes to car crashes and other types of severe injury in
this group of people. For more information, see the topic Substance Abuse in Older Adults.

Low-income populations. Drug and alcohol abuse is a problem for many minorities,
including disabled adults, the homeless, and minority
populations.

Babies.Drug and alcohol use
during pregnancy can cause birth defects and increase the risk of infant
death. Babies are more likely to have learning disabilities and social and
behavioral problems when their mothers use alcohol or drugs during pregnancy.
Babies with mothers who use alcohol are at risk for problems from
fetal alcohol syndrome.

Children. Studies show that children who are exposed to drug
abuse in the home, especially methamphetamine, have higher rates of depression,
anxiety, post-traumatic stress, anger, and alcohol and drug abuse. They also
are more likely to have learning problems and do poorly in school.

Recognizing a problem

Alcohol is part of many people's lives and may have a place in cultural and family traditions. It can sometimes be hard to know when you begin to drink too much.

After passing out, it's normal to feel a little confused, weak, or lightheaded when you first wake up or come to. But unless something else is wrong, these symptoms should pass pretty quickly and you should soon feel about as awake and alert as you normally do.

Find out when support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous
(AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA), meet. These self-help groups help members
get sober and stay that way. Call Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous
for the times of scheduled meetings.

Ask another person if he or she would accept help. Don't
give up after the first "no"—keep asking. If he or she agrees, act that very
day to arrange for help. If you are supporting another person, attend a few meetings of Al-Anon, a support group for
family members and friends of alcoholics. Read some 12-step program
information.

Provide support for another person during
detoxification or other treatment.

Help
set up community services in the home, if needed. Older adults may benefit from
such community services as home care, nutritional programs, transportation
programs, and other services.

Help with decision-making. Many people with substance abuse problems are unable to process information or
effectively communicate their decisions.

Check
out what services are available in your area.

Discuss the need for a referral to your
employee assistance program with your human resources department, if you have
the service available.

If you are supporting a teen, go to the website
http://drugstrategies.org/teens/programs for information about teen drug
treatment programs across the United States.

Symptoms to watch for during home treatment

Prevention

Some alcohol and drug abuse problems can
be prevented.

Do not drink
alcohol or use drugs if you are pregnant. Drinking or
using drugs before trying to become pregnant and during pregnancy increases
your baby's chances of being born with birth defects and
fetal alcohol syndrome.

Talk to your
children about the effects of alcohol and drugs. Children are less likely to
use alcohol or other drugs if their parents teach them early (during the
elementary school years) about the effects of alcohol and drugs. Set a good
example for your children by not abusing alcohol or using
drugs.

Encourage your teenager to avoid alcohol and drugs. Drinking
alcohol or using drugs during the teen years can harm growth and development. It can
also cause some teens to develop substance abuse problems later in life. Drug
use in this age group increases the chance that your teen will be involved in
crime, high-risk sexual behavior, accidents, and injuries.

Provide
nonalcoholic beverages at parties and meals. Don't give your children the
impression that you have to have alcohol to have a good time as an
adult.

Cut down on your drinking. Safe levels are: less than 2
drinks a day for men and 1 drink a day for women. One drink is
12 fl oz (360 mL) of beer,
5 fl oz (150 mL) of wine, or
1.5 fl oz (45 mL) of hard
liquor. Do not drink every day. See the topic Drinking and Your Health.

Look for signs of mental
stress. Try to understand and resolve sources of
depression,
anxiety, or loneliness. Don't use alcohol or drugs to
deal with these problems.

Ask your pharmacist or doctor whether any of your current medicines can cause dependence.

Be especially aware of pain medicines,
tranquilizers, sedatives, and sleeping pills. Follow the instructions carefully,
and do not take more than the recommended dose.

Make sure that your
doctors are aware of medicines prescribed by another doctor. Use only one pharmacy when getting your prescriptions
filled.

Do not regularly use medicines to sleep, lose
weight, or relax. Seek nondrug solutions.

Do not suddenly stop
taking any medicine without your doctor's supervision.

Do not drink alcohol when you are taking medicines. Alcohol can
react with many medicines and cause serious complications.

Do not
smoke or use other tobacco products. Many people relate tobacco use to alcohol
and drug use. For more information, see the topic
Quitting Smoking.

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How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.